A Vibrant Seattle Through Transportation Excellence.

Green Streets

SDOT engineers, planners, and paving crews are responsible for the 4,000 miles of roadway and 2,000 miles of sidewalk that keep our city moving. But who maintains the countless plants that keep our city green?

That’s SDOT’s gardeners and irrigation specialists.

A crew member works on a green median to keep the City welcoming and green.

Our team of gardeners, irrigation specialists, certified horticulturalists and arborists help create a more pleasant, welcoming, and positive environment for everyone walking, biking, busing, or driving in our city.

The crew works on a planter box.

Every crew member is licensed by the WA Department of Agriculture and trained on principles of integrated pest management to minimize our use of pesticides. Additionally, everyone is trained in flagging and traffic diversion, and some are certified traffic control supervisors.

Together, they help keep our shrubs, turf, ornamental grass, perennials, annuals, and other plants healthy, happy, and looking good with more than 150 different irrigation systems.

City gardeners are responsible for the city’s plants and small trees.

With more than 120 acres of green spaces across over 200 locations, including new additions like Mercer Ave median in South Lake Union or the entrances to the future waterfront tunnel, our gardeners and irrigation specialists work hard to make sure we stay the Emerald City.